Artist: Fleetwood Mac Album: Kiln House

Year: 1970
Duration: 0:0-1

Kiln House Review: Fleetwood Mac's Reckless Attempt at Rock

Fleetwood Mac in the early days was a completely different band than the one that brought us Rumours and Tusk. Their rock heavy roots in the UK would be a complete departure from their future albums and the formation of its members. Kiln House was the fourth studio album released back in 1970, just a year after their self titled album. It would also be the departure of guitarist Jeremy Spencer, who left the band to join a religious cult. The album featured songs that were not in line with the current mainstream and even saw the band trying out new genres, specifically Rockabilly and rock. The album received mixed reviews and was not commercially successful. Let's explore why.

Body:

The album starts with This is a Rock, a statement the band makes in their opening song. The song is a statement on the direction of the band in comparison to other rock bands of the time. It's a heavier sound with great guitar work, but it falls flat in the lyrics department. The words are repetitive and don't add anything to the song. Station Man, on the other hand, starts off with a catchy beat that promptly moves into slide guitar. This song could've been a hit if it were marketed as such. It's upbeat and would've been perfect to get people on the dance floor.

However, the album tends to drag on throughout the middle portion with songs that just don't have the same spark as the first two tracks. Blood on the Floor is far too long for a song with no variation, and One Together isn't bad but isn't anything memorable either. The album seems to pick back up towards the end, though, with Jewel Eyed Judy and Buddy's Song both being standout tracks of the album.

Overall, Kiln House is a mix of genres and sounds. Unfortunately, those genres don't always mesh well and cause the album to be inconsistent. The inclusion of Rockabilly may have been a tribute to the band’s roots, but it just falls short of their previous works. Adding a Rockabilly twist to other songs on the album could've been intriguing and added some cohesion.

Ultimately, Kiln House marks a haphazard moment in the early history of Fleetwood Mac. Allowing the Rockabilly genre to overtake most of the album was an experimental move, but it didn't create the hit songs that the band was aiming for. I will say that this album may not be entirely consistent, but for Fleetwood Mac fans, this is worth a listen. For music lovers who are unfamiliar with the band, this album may not be what you're expecting, but it's an interesting part of their history.